This World Cup has been a bloody cracker so far! You can’t take your eyes off it. There have been great goals, big moments, upsets and no clear runaway team at the moment.
Let’s start with the big talking point of Saturday… Mesut Ozil was dropped to the bench after his poor performance in the first leg. Die Zeit wrote that he’d been ‘Wengerised’ in a scathing piece about his lacklustre demeanour and effort. There’s a bit of sub-plot going off that states he’s paying a price for his cheeky selfie with Turkish autocrat Erdogan, but look, if it were about that, he wouldn’t have started the first game.
I found it deeply amusing that the people who’d been tweeting, ‘World Cup winner Joachim Löw depends on Ozil, but Dave from Hounslow thinks he’s shit’, had to revert to calling the manager a racist and a right wing sympathiser as soon as he did what Wenger should have done last season and dropped him.
The German press, who many lean on to get their fix of Ozil appreciation were basically saying the same things Arsenal fans have been saying for years.
Lothar Matthaus: “At Özil on the pitch I often have the feeling that he does not feel comfortable in the DFB jersey, is not free, almost: as if he does not want to play. There is no heart, no joy, no passion, ”
Alfred Draxler: “Özil thinks of himself – and not of the team.”
Mario Basler: “Ozil’s body language is like that of a dead frog, it’s pathetic,”
Stefan Effenburg: “completely misjudged” (decision to start him)
I’m not saying that Mesut is a shite player, all I’m saying is what we’re constantly accused of imagining because we’re British isn’t always right. Arsenal fans often get themselves into weird love-ins with players who aren’t cutting it because they’re addicted to spreadsheets and being seen as higher intellectual powers when it comes to the beautiful game. Szczęsny, Denilson, Hleb, Song, Coquelin, Xhaka (Wilshere if you’re honest) all boasted outsized reps for what they delivered.
I’m not clumping Mesut with the above, the German is sublime and can offer up more on a bad day than most can on a good. However, when he puts in a stinker, he needs to pay a price. He never did under Wenger, and he never did with the fans (until the back end of last season). He has with Löw. The big question is whether the coach goes back and tries again. He wasn’t tempted to bring him on when things were looking pretty dire against Sweden, so it’ll be fascinating to see what happens next.
I think the biggest challenge Emery has next season is resuscitating his most expensive player. He has to get him motivated and back in the game. He’s Arsenal’s best player by quite a margin, to have him central to our attacking plans and working to his absolute capacity would be a dream. Rumblings of player discontent about his pay and effort levels isn’t good and it won’t be good for broader team morale, so let’s hope that’s fixed next year.
Also, the Bling Bling gang? I really hope they didn’t name themselves.
The next talking point was Engggguuuuurrrrland dropping a 6-1 defeat on the heads of Panama. I know they’re shite, but we’ve made a mess of equally average teams. It’s great to see England play in a ruthless fashion, even if I am a bit worried how we’ll deal with a better team. Belgium will be a nice warm-up. Win there and I will start getting excited.
Finally, exArsenal flop Wojciech Szczęsny didn’t exactly shower himself in glory for Poland again. He was slow off his line for their first goal, compounding his error he made in the previous game where he came out to sweep and missed the ball. He’s an average keeper as I’ve always maintained. Marotta has just dropped £10.5m on Perrin of Genoa, so it doesn’t look too good for the #1 jersey going to the Pole.
That said, current Arsenal #2 pulled off a couple of top saves, and of course, faked an injury as well.
Also, I STIL have a lot of love for James. What a player. Dropping numbers again because he loves the World Cup.
In club news, Lucas Perez is coming back to Arsenal to fight for his place. Excellent. Never thought he was a bad player, but certainly, a panic buy from Wenger.
Finally, check out the sweet, sweet designs from Fokohaela (you can actually
buy these). I LOVE the creativity. Totally mental and beautiful at the same time. Puma needed @losdejos (who is a Gooner) and his team on the Puma project.
I had both teams not to score Carts.
Trust those Saudi cunts to get awarded 2 penalties.
yeah, true, ozil has been uninspiring for club and country. but I think the criticism from former players and fans is sometimes way overboard. he didn’t beg us to pay him his wages (which IMO is debatable and not up to the amount doing the rounds in the media). who wouldn’t try to get the best off an employer who is naive in dealing with salaries. all humans are opportunistic and will try to get the best deals in all situations. let ozil be. he’s having a stinker @ the moment but it happens to all in our various fields.
You must have got killed in the 1st round of matches though? Barely any over 2.5 goals in there.
Since Serbia-Switz it’s been an over 2.5 goals festival.
haha – not to score. genuine LOL.
Didn’t realise they got another pen. Thank fuck they notched
‘And they call themselves Arsenal supporters’
Talk to me about Ramsey, by your own idiotic standards of supportership, you fail if deluded, sycophantic backing of players is the standard.
Not to mention changes we’re all enjoying my brand of poor supporter has been championing for years when you were doing what, remind me again? Being a super supporter, right?
Hahaha oh wait mean both teams to score- no.
Fancied Egypt to edge it 1 or 2-0.
WE
Tbf, I only cracked on with the bets since Saturday but made about £500. It was the missus who asked whether I’ve been putting bets on, that’s when I realised.
Looking at previous fixtures, that didn’t have over 2.5 goals in them, I would’ve lost a few quid, but still been up.
Dissenter Of course Arsenal mishandled the Wilshire situation. They should have sold him two years ago when they could have secured a decent transfer fee. There are plenty of clubs who would have paid then £20 million+ for a 23/24 England International and Home Grown player. Tits McGee I would not be so hasty to offload Welbeck. Arsenal are at the moment on the margin when you look at our current home grown resources. The only players left in our first team squad once Wilshire leaves are Bellerin, Chambers,Holding, Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Iwobi and Welbeck. You can add a Goalkeeper in… Read more »
“The board sat there and watched Wenger hand Ozil, who, according to Wenger, has a chronic back problem, a 3 year extension on £350k p/w is wild.”
Lol, such stupidity from this poster
There are lots of people engaging in fantastical thinking on this site.
Anyone who thinks Wilshere could have been sold for 20 million two seasons ago is either
a] living out their days in an Alice in wonderland 100 room mansion OR
b] Just plain ‘ole revising history
The only club that was ready to take him on loan was Bournemouth. He’s been injured or “returning from injury forever”
We definitely need a LB. Monreal starting to tail off and exiting his prime, Kolasinac will get more starts. A walking disaster waiting to happen. We’ve been linked to Laxalt of Uruguay before. Reckon he’d be cheapish. At best he becomes a first XI. At the least, he becomes a backup when we bin both Monreal and Kolasinac in 2019.
We could have got about £8 Million for Wilshere though and we should have sold him, such an overhyped player.
Well done to the new team for getting rid of him, we all know if things had stayed the same both Wilshere and Cazorla would have got new deals.
Dissenter
I can assure you that there were plenty of clubs who would have paid £20
million + for Wilshire two years ago even factoring in his injury problems.
He was still playing for England that season.
There are plenty of clubs prepared to gamble on such a player if he becomes
available.
Arsenal’s problems in recent years has been the weakness of the club’s management in handling contract and transfer negotiations.
As long as he doesn’t want silly money (>£80k pw), I would hold on to Welbz to spearhead the Europa League campaign. Remember we’ve shifted a LOT of senior players who anchored the EL group stage matches last season (Giroud, Wally, Wilshere, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Coquelin). We need some experienced pros to guide the youts in that competition.
Didn’t City offer £30m for Wilshere?
Carts
There are plenty of injury prone players where clubs take a punt.
Luke Shaw and Sturridge are also injury prone and I am willing to bet someone will take a punt of these players.
Kolasinac being written off already after one season in a new league and after a relatively good start to his Arsenal career before the drop off in form.
Like i said earlier the craving for new signings in every position is boring. Even Pep with City’s millions worked with what he had for the first year before ringing the changes. Here a new squad is the demand
“Didn’t City offer £30m for Wilshere?””
The click bait articles online offered 30m for Wilshere no Man City.
CA If you read my comments re Ramsey , they are basically questioning the notion that Emery has stated that he sees Ramsey as a key player and Pedro saying that Emery has stated that keeping Ramsey is a priority…..maybe it’s true but there is no evidence to suggest this other than a few made up stories in the media that have no specific quotes from Emery. Of course I mention that Ramsey has a discipline problem for a central midfielder and he hasn’t managed to strike up a decent midfield partnership in ten years at the club…. I have… Read more »
ES
no doubt. I’m with you on that. West Ham did this with Carrol and he has a pain threshold of Pepe.
I mean, if City actually offered £30m for Wilshere (also note that Wenger said Wilshere turned down Real, not once but TWICE) then this is normal.
Walcott also had a history of injuries and the new management regime at the
club had no difficulty in selling him for £20 million.
Welbeck also had a history of injuries and the club had no problem in buying him from Man Utd.
The reality is that Wenger was always reluctant to offload his home grown brood and favoured sons.
Emirates
You’re arguing a losing case, stop it
Walcott and Wilshere aren’t on the same level, regarding their injury proneness.
Wilshere is on the same level of Abou Diaby. The only thing he’s good for is for spare parts.
It’s one thing for a player to be out dor muscle strains and other niggles like Ramsey and Walcott, tend to suffer.
It’s a completely different ball game for Wilshere who tends to be out for longer stretches for bony injuries.
Dissenter I am usually refraining from saying this but you are talking complete rubbish. Wilshire played last season over 30 games with first team. Diaby did not last 2 games before suffering injury. No-one doubts that Wilshire is a risk and frankly is not the player he was, but there are plenty of clubs who will take a punt. The fact that there is a list of clubs queuing up to sign him and presumably willing to offer him a 3 year contract and pay him what Arsenal are offering suggests that he will find a club willing to gamble… Read more »
Carts they did not. To my knowledge especially in recent years we’ve only received loan offers for Jack
Wilshere is no longer our problem. So dunno why u dudes are spending time arguing over him.
Fuck me. That bet came in nicely
What was your stake Carts?
Emirates You’re the one who’s talking utter rubbish and I was reluctant to go there as well. The crux of our argument is TWO SEASONS ago, not last season when he was on the verge of leaving on a free transfer. Nice try to try and switch the time line. Wilshere missed at least five months of 2014-2015 season and he missed 2015-2016 season as well due to injury. That was the lead up to two seasons ago. You’re making assertions that Wilshere could have been sold for 20 million two season ago when he was at the height of… Read more »
Carts the jammy git cleaning up here.
for a club that claims to be classy and operates on human values, is all these unconstructive criticism really needed? REMEMBER, NEVER THROW THE BABY AWAY WITH THE BATH WATER
Receding “Wilshere is no longer our problem. So dunno why u dudes are spending time arguing over him.” It’s insisting that somehow the club mishandled his contract because he could have been sold for good money when the player was at the height of his injury crises. He had barely played 4 months of football in two seasons leading up to two season ago. I hate the revisionist crap that Emirates tends to dabble in. Bournemouth wouldn’t have even offered to make his loan permanent even if he had stayed healthy because he was dropped from being starter…and that Eddie… Read more »
Carts
Predictions for later? Are we going to see more goals?
Pathetic World cup outing by Egypt. Came to Russia to run the Mohammed Salah show, absolutely pathetic world cup outing.
“You do spew a lot of balderdash in long prose on this site.”
This
The north African teams have been gash this world cup.
It seems Perez is returning back from Deportivo for the preseason.
It’s likely he stays while Welbeck will be sold for the pittance that he’s worth.
I think both Welbeck and Perez will be sold.
“”It’s insisting that somehow the club mishandled his contract because he could have been sold for good money when the player was at the height of his injury crises. He had barely played 4 months of football in two seasons leading up to two season ago.”” The young man is done at the top level of football, even West Ham are only offering a year deal. No one in their right minds would offer him a lengthy contact on good money. I do not think we turned down any significant offer for Wilshere at anytime although of course i could… Read more »
Bellerin typifies everything that has been wrong with AFC these past ten years.
Players in a comfort zone, thinking they are better than they actually are.
I hope Emery gives him a kick up the backside and lays down a few ground rules.
As for Ozil, a wee bit more complicated but basically, the same thing.
All down to a manager who let them get away with things.
Disseenter
Your argument went out of the window when you made a comparison between Wilshire and Diaby.
Last season Wilshire played in 38 games albeit more than half were from bench. So the idea that he is a complete cripple and therefore unsaleable is ridiculous.
If you had argued on the basis that Wilshire is no longer the player we thought he was and therefore would have sold on a lower valuation there might have been a different point to discuss.
Emirates
“Your argument went out of the window when you made a comparison between Wilshire and Diaby.”
I realized that arguing with you was like trying to climb a slimy wall with a slimy wall when you switched the timeline of discussion from two years ago to last season.
I commend you for not replying me with a 1000 word post.
Have a good day.
Cesc/Eagle
Yeah, the kids were adamant they wouldn’t work anyway so…
Didn’t have to ask me twice to be honest.
Cheers Carts !
Gonsterous
I do like history but I teach french and english as a foreign language in an apprenticeship school.
If you listen to media reports then we’ve already wrapped up Lichtsteiner, Leno, Sokratis, Adli, Torreira, and Soyuncu. We’re also closing in on Banega and quite possibly Fellaini, N’Zonzi and Gelson Martins. Yep, that’s 10 players all on a 50 million budget that’s supposed to cover contract renewals for Ramsey and Xhaka. Clearly, something is very wrong here. I’m guessing it’s a little of both. First, we’re not picking up 10 new players. Second, there’s been no official confirmation of our exact budget for this window and what it covers. Here’s the reality: 1) We have two confirmed signings in… Read more »
@ Bacary
Sokratis …..done deal announcement delayed on Dortmund’s request for accounting purposes
Torriera …done deal..announcement delayed by world cup
Leno and Stefan L…announced
Soyoncu ,…i believe the club deem the 35m asking price too expensive so negotiations ongoing
Anything else is on a wait and see basis
Bacary
“Don’t be fooled. If we add Sokratis and Torreira to Leno and Lichtsteiner, it will have been a very successful and efficient summer.”
No it won’t, we don’t know how any of those players will perform.
I’m a safe gambler. Only did £50 got £260 back.
Thinking of putting it all on over 2.5 goals for both Spain and Portugal.
My theory is that both need to pummel their opps because who ever finishes top plays Russia as opposed to a tricky Uruguay
Your Comment Here
I hope Salah goes back to his baseline next season.
I’m tired of all the Salah news for Liverpool and his country.
Uruguay have got to be one of the favourites. Godin & Gimenez are probably the best defensive pair in the whole tourney. In Suarez & Cavani, they’ve got the firepower to nick a goal even with shite service.
The commentator said they’ve not conceded a goal in 2018.
Score a goal and they can hold on to a 1-0 win. Its down to their midfield to keep them ticking.
Anyone who thinks we are signing top notch players is delusional.
Akilan
I agree.
Uruguay are going to be there or thereabouts.
Returns on that Carts?
About 2/1.
£200 rts £600
In an episode of Serie A gonna Serie A, Naingolaan has signed for Inter.
“”I hope Salah goes back to his baseline next season.
I’m tired of all the Salah news for Liverpool and his country.””
Thought i was the only one bored with this one season super stardom. The player himself now carries on like he is the GOAT
Nice.
Yeah seen that little bit of a surprising move tbh.
Don’t get the feeling Inter are in any better kind of position than Roma are, maybe they have more to spend.
Good move to replace Vasquez with Thiago Alacanatra, that’s probably the best possible Spanish starting 11.
Redruth, although you state that we can’t judge the players we’ve signed or about to sign, in your next post you essentially do exactly that by saying they’re not top notch. Delusional? Contrary certainly….
Effing hell Pique nearly killed a man there lol
But the Gunners have also been linked with Celta Vigo man Stanislav Lobotka in recent times.
However, his agent Branislav Jasurek rubbished those reports, while simultaneously confirming that Torreira will be an Arsenal player next term.
“Arsenal have bought Torreira to play six, so I do not think it’s going to happen,” he told La Voz de Galicia.
I don’t know (nobody does) whether Wilshere will ever get back to full fitness. But I do know how good he was. Better than good, he was outstanding.
It’s a shame. A better manager would have calmed him, made him less reckless. The boy had quick feet, he didn’t need to rush.
If he does get back to regular football, he’ll pick up where he left off. The main man in midfield for Roy, a class above anybody Gareth has got out there.
I think it’s an initial loan with the deal to be wrapped up next summer.
I’d imagine Inter anticipate getting some money for Mario or Skriniar
Scintillating stuff from Iniesta and Isco
If Torreira does complete transfer, surely we can recycle Vieira’s song, he comes from Uruguay, he plays for our man Unai, Torreira ……..,
I hate the changes that Portugal’s coach did to their team. I know he had to switch things up after his team got kind of outplayed by Morocco but the players he is using are absolutely questionable.
Andre mothereffin Silva and Quaresma benching Bernardo Silva come dafug on!!!
LORD I JINXED IT !!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY!
Oh my Lord, Quaresma just brought the Trivela out of retirement.
What a strike by Quaresma. I think I came!
Quaresma such a magical player on his day. Sadly suffering from the winger sickness of being super inconsistent far too often.
The players we sign will not take us to the next level and by next level i mean competing for the title and Champions league.
Red,
I believe first we need to get back to UCL. Next season goal number 1 will be that. Only after that we can start thinking for something more.
That’s my point, the players we are signing are not top notch.
Who would you sign Marble?
Players that are beyond Arsenal’s reach
Red
Who would you sign?
Open question
So Wenger leaves and Redcock is still negative on every comment.
Really don’t know why after banning him twice already Pedro puts up with him. Brings the blog’s comment section down.
That was a pen though. Good job VAR.
VAR is fuckin ridiculous
Justice lol lol lol
Cronaldo not as good as Kane… at taking penalties lolz
100% pen VAR is golden.
So am I going to have to see ENDLESS articles of how CR7 is brittle mentally like they did Messi? Let’s see….
Not the same though. If Portugal lose this game then yes.
For an instance Messi was absolutely invisible vs Roma away last season. PSG away. Juventus both legs.
Ronaldo had winning goals almost every round.
Spain have a back line of Ramos, Pique, Alba and Carvajal with DDG at the goal. Still brittle as fuck.
I mean from the players that we know that could be for sale I’d probably buy:
defenders – no idea
midfielders – today’s transfer in Nainggolan and Kovacic as our midfield base, possibly Rabiot
wingers – Bale and one of Fekir/Martial
striker – if we didn’t have a good striker in Auba I’d get Icardi
Legbreak on the way in Iran – Port game. Nasty cunts all over the pitch
raptora
You’re not red though.
You explain your posts with full sentences while Red just trolls and moans all da.
Don’t make it easier for Red to dodge the question.
Is this the same Carvalho being hyped by legrove?
He’s shit
Andre Silva is such a nothing striker I swear. Downgraded Morata. And that’s not a compliment.
That has to be a red?
Spain vs Uruguay then………and I’m backing the biter to beat them.
Morocco lead vs Spain. Are you kidding me?!
Sanmi June 25, 2018 20:34:30
Is this the same Carvalho being hyped by legrove?
He’s shit
******
LOL. The one and only.
Samesong,
I think so. Rooney’s done it in EPL a million times without consequences. Not sure about the criteria. I think it’s not universal and extremely subjective.
why didnt the refree red card Ronaldo?
Because it’s Ronaldo. They wouldn’t have shown it to Messi either.
I actually think Carvalho is a bit undervalued. My main gripe or impression has been he’s a bit slow and cumbersame but thats not true at all. Very fast what i’ve seen. Great technique, vision and passingrange. What am I missing?? Never watched the portuguise league thou. Why is he still playing there?
Is he that shit /average?
Spain equalize and Iran with a pen ……..great drama.
This should not be a pen. 15 cm away of the ball while fighting in an aerial duel.